Automatic cut-out



INVENTOR ffPDo Ze H. P. DONLE AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT Filed March 24. 1921 'May 6 1924.

1 rent Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED :STATES nanonnrorrna DONLE, or mnarmm,

PATENT OFFICE.

I CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE CONNECTI- CUT TELEPHONE d: ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED,

orimamnn, commc'rn CUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

AUTOII ATIC CUT-OUT.

Application filed larch 24, 1921. Serial No. 455,864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD P. DONLE, a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at Meriden, Connecticut, have in- 5 vented a new and useful-Automatic Cut-Out,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to a switch intended for use with. an ignition system for an internal combustion motor but 1 it should be understood that the invention is not limited tosuch use.

The main object is to provide a simple and reliable switch which will automatically interrugt the circuit in case of an excessive curow or in case of continuous flow for a 'greater period of time than currentis supposed to flow in the device.

Another object is. to provide for the resetting of the device as above described in such a way that it is impossible to manually hold the switch closed long enough to run down the battery or cause damage.

Another object is to avoid the use of a resistance coil commonly employed in such switches. e

In carrying out the invention, I provide a spring pressed movable switch member which is normally held in its closed circuit position b means of a thermostatic element. A part 0 this thermostatic element moves when it is heated so as to release the movable switch member. The movable switch memher is adapted to be reset by hand and I have provided means for rendering this manual resetting means ineffective in case. it is sought to prevent the automatic release of the switch member. I

Fig. 1 1s a side view of a switch embodying the improvements of my invention suggesting in-dotted lines a casing for covering the mechanism, the switch be1ng shown in the closed circuit position.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

F Fig. 3 is .a view from the opposite side of Fig. 4 is a rear view showing the circuit connections.

Fi 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the switch in the open circuit posi- 50 tion.

3 Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 but with the manually operable part pushed inward.

carried by the projection 26 adapted to engage the shoulder' 7 is a perspective view of the thermostatic element.

The two switch contacts 10 and 11 are nor- .mally bridged by a movable switch member 12. The U-shaped thermostatic element 13 has two offset portions or feet and to one of which a circuitterminal 14 is secured. All the arts may be conveniently mounted on the insulating base 15. The rod or post 16 secured to the base forms a support for all of the movable elements except the thermostatic device. The U-shaped yoke 17 is slidably mounted 'on this post 16 and carries the switch member 12 which is insulated from it. A spring 18 surrounding the 0st 16 is interposed between the base 15 an the yoke 17 so as to tend to push the yoke and switch member 12 away from the base and the contacts 10 and 11. A pin 19 secured to the post 16 acts as a stop to limit the outward movement of the yoke 17. A manually operable push button 20 has secured 'to ita member 21 which interlocks with the .yoke 17 and serves to guide the ush button on the post 16. A spring 2 n t e post 16 is interposed between the yo e 1 7 and the yoke-like ycompress the spring 22 in the position shown in Fig.- 6. The thermostatic member .13 serves to normally hold the switch member 12 in the closed circuit position and for this purpose the thermostatic member is rovided with a catch shoulder 23 adap to engage the shoulder 24 on the yoke 17 as shown in Fig. 2. The yielding or spring finger 25 push button 20 has a catch 27 on the yoke 17. This finger 25 also has a projecting tip 28 located ad'acent the upper end of the thermostatic mem r 23. The circuit through the switch normally includes the thermostatic element 13, the contact 11, switch member 12 and contact 10. The thermostatic element is so designed and proportioned and of such com ition that under normal running conditlons the yoke-17 and movable switch member 12 are held in the closed circuit position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In caseof excessive current or current prolonged more than normally re quired for operating conditions, the thermomal position.

-. closed by pushing the button whereupon the catch 26 engages theshoulder 27 and the longitudinal thrust is applied through the yoke 17 until the catch 23 again snaps over the shoulder 24. If the previous abnormal circuit condition continues of course the thermostatic element will again release the switch member. Should the operator try to hold the switch closed by keeping the button 20 pushed in, the thermostatic member will continue to bend outwardly as shown in Fig. 6, and push the finger 28 outward so as to release the catch 26 from the shoulder 27 thus permitting the spring 18 to move the yoke 17 and break the circuit. To facilitate the operation of the catches, the catch 23 and the adjacent lower edge of the yoke 17 (see 5) may be inclined and an inclined shoulder 29 may be provided up which the catch.26 may slide when the push button is released from the position shown in Fig. 6.

I claim: I 1. In an automatic switch, a stationary contact, a movable switch'member, a thermostatic element normally retaining said switch member in closed circuit position, a spring for operating said switch member in one direction, a manually operable member for moving said switch member in the opposite direction, and automatic means for rendering said manually operable member ineffective.

2. In an automatic switch, a movable member, a thermostatic element normally in circuit therewith for holding said member in the closed circuit position, means for automatically moving said member and manually operable means for resettin said member, and means for automatica y disengaging said manually operable means.

3. In an automatic switch, a sliding yoke, a thermostatic element having a catch en aging said yoke, a manually operable member for moving said yoke, said thermostatic element being adapted to disengage said manually operable member.

4. In an automatic switch, a su porting post, a yoke slidable thereon, a pus button slidable on said post, a member carried thereby interlocking with said yoke but movable with relation thereto, a spring for moving said yoke, a second springfor movin said member, a'thermostatic element norma y engagin said yoke, a catch carried by said push utton normally. engaging said yoke, said thermostatic element being adapted to disengage said catch.

5. In an automatic switch, a sliding yoke,

'apush button, a catch member carried by said push buttonand a thermostatic element having a movable end interposed between said catch member and said yoke.

6. In an automatic switch, two sliding compressed to close the circuit, said manu members interlocked one with the other, a

ally controlled device being held in said position by said latch and being automatically released therefrom by said atch under abnormal circuit conditions.

8. In an electric switch, stationary and movable contacts, an operating device movable manually m one dlrection, a spring for moving same in an ofiposite directiommeans between said manua y operable device and said movable contact for imparting positive movement from the former to the latter, and a thermostatically controlled latch for holding said contacts in engagement under normalcircuit conditions, said latch bein movableinto a disengaging position un er abnormal-circuit conditions to automatically release the movable contact member.

9. In an electric switch, stationary, and

movable contacts, an operating device movable manually in one direction, a spring for moving same in an opposite direction, means between said manually operable device and said movable contact for imparting positive movement from the former to the latter, and

a thermostatically controlled latch for hold- ,ing said contacts in engagement under nor mal circuit conditions, said latch bein mov able into a disengaging position un er abnormal circuit conditions to automatically release the movable contact member, and to also 0 ratively disenga e said manuallycontro able device there om.

HAROLD POTTER DONLE. 

